Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Car Washes: Coronavirus

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether car washes are permitted to operate during the covid-19 outbreak.

Paul Scully: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



The guidance on working safely during COVID-19 is aimed at working environments, not whether a specific business can reopen. The guidance is designed to help employers, workers and the self-employed understand how to work safely, including what employers need to think about to adapt a workplace to manage risk in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. We know that every organisation is different. Whether hand or automatic car washes, employers can use the guidance to create specific plans for their business in consultation with those who are affected by their operations, including workers and contractors. Plans will depend on the nature of your business, such as the sector, and the details of your workforce and operations. Whether a business must remain closed varies according to which part of the UK you are operating in. For England the rules are set out on the gov.uk website. The website also includes links to information for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Department of Health and Social Care

Health Professions: Coronavirus

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether covid-19 is recognised as an industrial disease when contracted by health care professionals.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 29 April 2020



The classification of COVID-19 in relation to occupational exposure is determined by the circumstances of each individual case. All such dangerous occurrences, cases of disease and work-related fatalities, must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under RIDDOR (The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013).Guidance on how such events are to be reported and classifications determined, has been made publicly available on the HSE website.

Dental Services: South Yorkshire

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that  the opening of urgent dental care centres in South Yorkshire closed as a result of the covid-19 outbreak is expedited.

Jo Churchill: NHS England and NHS Improvement are working to ensure appropriate services are in place for all who need them.National Health Service dentistry was reorganised in late March along with other NHS primary care services to minimise face to face care to contain the spread of COVID-19 during the peak of the pandemic. Dentists were asked to suspend all routine treatment and instead to offer urgent advice and, where required, prescriptions for antibiotics by telephone. Urgent treatment was made available through urgent dental centres (UDCs) set up in each NHS region.As of 25 May there are currently over 550 UDCs open across England. Patients are triaged into UDCs by their own dentistry or through NHS 111. The UDCs are expected to provide, where urgently needed, the full range of dental treatment normally available on the NHS.NHS England and NHS Improvement announced on 28 May that NHS dentistry outside UDCs will begin to restart from 8 June with the aim of increasing levels of service as fast as is compatible with aximizing safety.A copy of the letter that was published can be found at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-ontent/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/Urgent-dental-care-letter-28-May.pdf

Coronavirus: Screening

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many covid-19 tests (a) were undertaken in total and (b) resulted in a (i) positive and (ii) negative finding on each day in April 2020.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 06 May 2020



The overall number of tests for COVID-19 is published daily and is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-publicHowever, the information is not broken down to the level of detail being requested.In April a total of 758,719 tests were completed across the United Kingdom, 146,103 of these results in a lab confirmed positive result.More information on the Government’s testing strategy as well as updated testing figures can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-covid-19-surveillance-reports

Coronavirus: Chickenpox

Chris Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that Public Health England recommendations are being implemented for (a) people working in close contact with people who are at high-risk of chickenpox and (b) NHS staff without a confirmed history of chickenpox during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill: In most cases chickenpox (varicella-zoster) is a self-limiting condition which can be safely managed at home. Post-exposure management using varicella-zoster immunoglobulin is used to protect individuals at high risk of suffering from severe chickenpox.The ‘Green Book’1 guidance is based on advice from Public Health England, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and the standards expected of health and care professionals by their regulatory bodies. It is the responsibility of all health and care professionals to keep themselves informed of any developments which may have a bearing on their area of practice. Current personal protective equipment and social distancing COVID-19 guidance also applies.Note:[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immunisation-against-infectious-disease-the-green-book#the-green-book

Coronavirus: North West

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with Local Resilience Forums in the North West about the reasons for the North West having the highest reported incidences of cases of covid-19.

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of covid-19 cases in (a) Liverpool, (b) Wirral and (c) Manchester.

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has issued guidance to NHS trusts in the North West as a result of the increase of cases of covid-19 in that region.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 11 May 2020



The Public Health England (PHE) COVID-19 data dashboard includes data by upper tier local authority. As at 13 May, the COVID-19 incidence rate was 306.2 cases per 100,000 resident population for Liverpool, 353.9 per 100,000 for Wirral, and 248.7 per 100,000 for Manchester. Data from 31 January to 13 May 2020 show the COVID-19 cumulative incidence rate for the North West was 313.4 cases per 100,000 resident population. This is lower than the North East, although higher than other regions. The PHE COVID-19 Dashboard is available at the following link:https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

Coronavirus: Asthma

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of people in receipt of a shielding letter sent by the Government in response to the covid-19 outbreak have severe asthma.

Jo Churchill: This information is not held in the format requested.

Cancer: Hospitals

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to create covid-19 free hospital sites for the treatment of cancer patients.

Jo Churchill: NHS England and NHS Improvement have published guidance and supported the development of ‘hubs’ for cancer surgery. Hubs are being developed in all 21 Alliance areas across England and are already fully or partially operational in at least 18 areas. NHS England and NHS Improvement are working now with all Cancer Alliances on plans for the next phases of service delivery.

Heart Diseases: Coronavirus

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the medical advice that informed the decision to exclude heart failure patients from the extremely vulnerable category for covid-19.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 18 May 2020



Expert doctors in England identified specific medical conditions that, based on what we knew about the virus so far, placed someone at greatest risk of severe illness from COVID-19. These were signed off by the UK Senior Clinicians Group (including the four United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers and clinical leadership at NHS England and NHS Improvement, NHS Digital and Public Health England).Some conditions are not suitable for blanket inclusion in the shielded list, particularly where there is a spectrum of severity of disease. No condition automatically excludes a patient from the list.General practitioners and clinicians can, on a case-by-case basis, assess a patient’s suitability for shielding and, after consultation with the patient, add them to the centrally held list of patients who receive advice on shielding.

Radiotherapy: Coronavirus

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to tackle the under-use of radiotherapy capacity during the covid-19 outbreak.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce the level of unused radiotherapy machine capacity during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 18 May 2020



As set out in a letter from NHS England and NHS Improvement to trusts on 29 April, cancer treatment must be brought back to pre-pandemic levels at the earliest opportunity to minimise potential harm, and to reduce the scale of the post-pandemic surge in demand.

Cancer: EU Countries

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make a comparative assessment of level of cancer services provided in each EU member state during covid-19 pandemic.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 18 May 2020



No assessment has been made.

Splenectomy: Disease Control

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what advice his Department has provided for splenectomy patients on shielding in response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 18 May 2020



Splenectomy patients are considered clinically extremely vulnerable and have been included on the shielded patient list. Guidance for patients on shielding can be found at the following link:www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

Dental Services: Coronavirus

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to permit dentists to reopen.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 18 May 2020



NHS England and NHS Improvement are working to ensure appropriate services are in place for all who need them.National Health Service dentistry was reorganised in late March along with other NHS primary care services to minimise face to face care to contain the spread of COVID-19 during the peak of the pandemic. Dentists were asked to suspend all routine treatment and instead to offer urgent advice and, where required, prescriptions for antibiotics by telephone. Urgent treatment was made available through urgent dental centres (UDCs) set up in each NHS region.As of 25 May there are currently over 550 UDCs open across England. Patients are triaged into UDCs by their own dentistry or through NHS 111. The UDCs are expected to provide, where urgently needed, the full range of dental treatment normally available on the NHS.NHS England and NHS Improvement announced on 28 May that NHS dentistry outside UDCs will begin to restart from 8 June with the aim of increasing levels of service as fast as is compatible with maximising safety.A copy of the letter that was published can be found at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-ontent/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/Urgent-dental-care-letter-28-May.pdf

Hospitals: Coronavirus

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of patients who have contracted covid-19 as a hospital-acquired infection.

Jo Churchill: Data on the number of patients who contracted COVID-19 as a hospital-acquired infection are not available.However, estimates from the Department-funded COVID-19 Clinical Information Network (CO-CIN), suggest that between 10-20% of COVID-19 infections treated in hospitals had symptom onset after seven days in hospital between March and April 2020. The most recent available CO-CIN report is available to view at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/886442/s0355-co-cin-report-130520-sage36.pdf

Ambulance Services: Standards

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the performance of ambulance response times during the covid-19 outbreak.

Edward Argar: Ambulance Quality Indicators, including national response time performance are published monthly by NHS England. This can be found at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ambulance-quality-indicators/In April, four of the six national response time standards were met for life threatening, emergency, urgent, and non-urgent calls. In March, one standard was met for life threatening calls. Ambulance services received a record number of calls per day to 999, alongside a reduction in patients conveyed to accident and emergency, in order to reduce the increased pressures hospitals are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus: East of England

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the official calculation is of the covid-19 R rate in the East of England region as of 19 May 2020.

Jo Churchill: We do not currently publish the R rate in each region. The Government Office for Science currently publishes the latest estimate of the United Kingdom-wide range for R on a weekly basis. The current range is estimated to be 0.7-1.0 and is based on latest data available to determine infection and transmission rates.The Government is committed to publishing the scientific evidence that has informed the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies advice. These papers are being published in batches. The latest batches were released on 20 March 2020 and 5 May 2020 and the next batch will published in the coming weeks. The full list of papers released to date is available at the following link. This list will be updated to reflect papers considered at recent and future meetings.https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/scientific-advisory-group-for-emergencies-sage-coronavirus-covid-19-response

Cancer: Screening

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the planned timescale is for resuming all NHS cancer screening programmes that have been paused due to the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill: The National Health Service is working to step up non-COVID-19 urgent services as part of the second phase of the NHS response to COVID-19. This includes delivering as much routine and preventative work as possible, including screening.On 29 April, NHS England and NHS Improvement wrote to NHS leaders setting out the second phase of the NHS response to COVID-19. A copy of this letter can be found at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/second-phase-of-nhs-response-to-covid-19-letter-from-simon-stevens-and-amanda-pritchard/

Coronavirus: Rehabilitation

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken to ensure that additional capacity for rehabilitation care is created for patients discharged from hospital after contracting covid-19.

Edward Argar: Holding answer received on 02 June 2020



On 19  March 2020, we published the ‘COVID-19 hospital discharge service requirements.’ This sets out guidance on supporting the safe and rapid discharge of patients who no longer need acute care. It follows the ‘Discharge to Assess’ model; wherever possible, people who are clinically ready will be supported to return to their place of residence, where assessment of longer-term needs will take place.This guidance provides information to support health and care organisations to ensure we have the capacity to meet the needs of people affected by COVID-19. The Government has also made £1.3 billion funding available to the National Health Service to help patients who no longer need urgent treatment to get home from hospital safely and quickly.

Coronavirus: Rehabilitation

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken to ensure that a national patient pathway is created for patients discharged after being hospitalised with covid-19.

Edward Argar: Holding answer received on 02 June 2020



On 19  March 2020, we published the ‘COVID-19 hospital discharge service requirements.’ This sets out guidance on supporting the safe and rapid discharge of patients who no longer need acute care. It follows the ‘Discharge to Assess’ model; wherever possible, people who are clinically ready will be supported to return to their place of residence, where assessment of longer-term needs will take place. This guidance provides information to support health and care organisations to ensure we have the capacity to meet the needs of people affected by COVID-19. The Government has also made £1.3 billion funding available to the National Health Service to help patients who no longer need urgent treatment to get home from hospital safely and quickly.

Coronavirus: Cumbria

Simon Fell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the reportedly high number of cases of covid-19 in Barrow-in-Furness and South Lakes.

Jo Churchill: Variation in the number of COVID-19 cases is caused by a number of factors including demography, behaviour and rate of testing. The rate of testing in the area has been high due to an early and proactive approach to testing taken by the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay (UHMB) NHS Foundation Trust, which manages Furness General Hospital, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and the Westmorland General in Kendal in South Lakeland.The Trust commenced swabbing of employees and household members who were symptomatic of coronavirus at the end of February 2020. Testing has included UHMB NHS Foundation Trust employees and household members, hospital inpatients, care home residents and staff, and key workers from other organisations and their households.

NHS: Emergencies

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what long-term plans he has to ensure that the NHS is (a) a resilient and (b) a strategic protective service in order to tackle future health emergencies.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 02 June 2020



NHS England and NHS Improvement have a statutory requirement to formally assure their own and the National Health Service in England’s readiness to respond to emergencies on an annual basis. To do this, NHS England and NHS Improvement ask commissioners and providers of NHS-funded care to complete an Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response annual assurance process. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/eprr-annual-assurance-guidance-v2.0.pdfNHS England also produces an Incident Response Plan (National). This is the overarching generic plan that details how NHS England reviews and responds to any health-related incident or emergency at the national level, there are plans which describe the regional response and each NHS organisation will have its own Incident Response Plan. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/NHS-england-incident-response-plan-v3-0.pdf

Drugs: Palliative Care

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure stocks of medicines for end of life do not run short.

Jo Churchill: As part of our concerted national efforts to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, we are doing everything we can to ensure patients continue to access safe and effective medicines, including those used in end of life care. The Department is working closely with the pharmaceutical industry, the National Health Service and others in the supply chain to help ensure patients can access the medicines they need, and precautions are in place to reduce the likelihood of future shortages.NHS England and NHS Improvement have advised clinical commissioning groups to establish local hubs to ensure rapid access to anticipatory medicines. These hubs could be a community pharmacy, primary care network (general practitioner practice), community hospital, acute or other setting where palliative medicines (including controlled drugs) can be safely and legally stored and rapidly released when needed.The Department and NHS England and NHS Improvement have published a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the use of medicines labelled for one patient, who no longer needs them, to be used by another person, in hospices and care homes. This will protect the medicine supply chain and ensure that patients can access critical medicines at end of life. The SOP can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-reuse-of-medicines-in-a-care-home-or-hospice

Protective Clothing and Screening: Procurement

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what criteria his Department used to select (a) Deloitte to lead work on the procurement of personal protective equipment and (b) Sodexo to lead work on the establishment of covid-19 testing centres.

Jo Churchill: Deloitte is providing operational support for the procurement process of personal protective equipment (PPE) from existing and new manufacturers who can assist in scaling-up regulatory-approved PPE resources within the United Kingdom. As an existing professional services provider to the public sector, Deloitte’s expertise is being used to supplement in-house resource to deliver significant programmes of work, which currently includes the national response to COVID-19.Sodexo are one of a number of facility management companies who are supporting the establishment and running of testing centres across the UK. Officials have worked with various industry providers to understand who has the footprint and ability to establish and run services in all geographical areas within short timescales.Guidance on how contracting authorities should respond to COVID-19 was published on 18 March. Authorities are allowed to procure goods, services and works with extreme urgency in exceptional circumstances using regulation 32(2)(c) under the Public Contract Regulations 2015. We have also made it clear that authorities must continue to achieve value for money for taxpayers, use good commercial judgement and publish the details of any awards made, in line with regulations and Government transparency guidelines.

Coronavirus: Supermarkets

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of the risk of transfer of covid-19 in supermarkets.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 02 June 2020



The Government has published evidence on environmental transmission, including indoor and outdoor risks. The two relevant papers are available at the following links: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evidence-of-environmental-dispersion-of-covid-19-for-different-mechanisms-14-april-2020 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environmental-influence-on-transmission-of-covid-19-28-april-2020

Dental Services

Saqib Bhatti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) support and (b) guidance is available to patients needing treatment for (i) toothache, (ii) abscesses and (iii) other urgent dental conditions.

Jo Churchill: To meet the Government social distancing measures and to contain the spread of COVID-19 all routine dentistry has currently been suspended.We expect all National Health Service dental practices to provide urgent telephone advice and triage. Dentists are giving urgent advice remotely and, if needed, prescriptions for painkillers or antibiotics. All urgent face to face treatment that is clinically necessary is available for patients who are triaged by their dentist or NHS 111 into one of the 550 urgent dental care centres set up by NHS England and NHS Improvement.The urgent dental centres are expected to provide, where urgently needed, the full range of dental treatment normally available on the NHS.NHS England and NHS Improvement announced on 28 May that NHS dentistry outside urgent care centres will begin to restart from 8 June with the aim of increasing levels of service as fast as is compatible with maximising safety.A copy of the letter that was published can be found at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-ontent/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/Urgent-dental-care-letter-28-May.pdf

Coronavirus: Nike

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when Public Health England were informed of a covid-19 outbreak at a Nike conference in Scotland; what advice was provided as result; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on whether Public Health England was informed by Nike that it was (a) closing and (b) disinfecting its stores in Edinburgh as a result of a suspected outbreak of covid-19 at the Nike international conference on 26 and 27 February 2020.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 02 June 2020



Public Health England (PHE) was alerted to a case associated with the Nike Conference in Edinburgh on 2 March 2020. Around 50 individuals who attended this conference lived in England and were identified. PHE followed up these individuals. They were sent text messages informing them of the exposure and asking them to self-isolate for 14 days and contact 111 if they develop symptoms.PHE did not have direct contact with conference organisers in Edinburgh or Nike in Edinburgh. Health Protection Scotland had direct contact with the conference organisers as the lead organisation in the incident response.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his Department's criteria are for deciding when to inform the public of the outbreak of an infections disease in a specific (a) local and (b) regional location.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 02 June 2020



Local outbreaks are usually managed by a multi-agency Outbreak Control Team (OCT). Member organisations will be appropriate to each situation but an OCT will usually be chaired by either a Public Health Consultant from Public Health England (PHE) or the Local Authority Director of Public Health and will include experts from PHE, the local authority, the local National Health Service, the setting concerned and other wider partners. Each OCT considers the response required to each outbreak on its own merits. Informing the public about the outbreak is a key decision which is discussed and agreed by all the members of an OCT when an outbreak is considered to pose an ongoing risk to the wider public who need to be alerted to measures they need to take in order to protect their health.Use of communication through the media may be a valuable part of the control strategy of an outbreak and the OCT will consider the risks and benefits of proactive versus reactive media engagement in any outbreak.Further information is available in the PHE Communicable Disease Outbreak Operational Guidance at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/communicable-disease-outbreak-management-operational-guidance

Vaccination: Children

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the delivery of child vaccination programmes.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 02 June 2020



Public Health England (PHE) has recently published a study on the early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and physical distancing measures on routine childhood vaccinations in England. General practice data indicates there has not been a significant reduction in the number of primary immunisation doses administered compared to the previous year, though there is some indication of a decrease in the first dose of measles, mumps and rubella vaccinations, although this appears to be recovering. PHE continues to monitor the situation closely. Further information can be found at the following link:https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.19.2000848Programmes delivered through schools are currently on hold and will be rescheduled when schools reopen.

Vaccination: Children

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure children receive all due vaccinations during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 02 June 2020



Public Health England (PHE) and NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with regional commissioners to ensure routine childhood immunisations continue to be delivered in primary care settings. Programmes delivered through schools are currently on hold and will be rescheduled as schools open.PHE recently worked with NHS England and NHS Improvement to generate national news coverage to make people aware that National Health Service immunisations are still available, and the importance of keeping up to date with routine childhood immunisations during the pandemic. They have also produced resources for hospitals, general practices, pharmacies and other NHS settings. These have been shared across the health system, including local authorities and local NHS trusts to help them disseminate this messaging and are available at the following link:https://coronavirusresources.phe.gov.uk/nhs-resources-facilities/resources/PHE has also produced new immunisation social media cards to help to promote these messages which are available at the following link:https://www.healthpublications.gov.uk/ViewArticle.html?sp=Scovid19promotingimmunisationsocialmediacardsThe Government’s Coronavirus Action Plan has stated that everyone should ensure that they and their family’s vaccinations are up-to-date. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-action-plan/coronavirus-action-plan-a-guide-to-what-you-can-expect-across-the-uk

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

Dr Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reasons Public Health England has not incorporated in its advice to (a) care homes and (b) general practices (i) Resuscitation Council and (ii) WHO guidance on provision of Level 3 personal protective equipment in settings where cardiac arrest is likely.

Dr Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the (a) evidence base used (b) authorities consulted by Public Health England in formulating its guidance on the use of PPE in care settings in which cardiac arrest is likely.

Dr Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether care home staff are permitted without Level 3 PPE to undertake cardiopulmonary resuscitation on (a) residents who have tested positive for covid-19 (b) and residents whose covid-19 status is undetermined .

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 02 June 2020



The United Kingdom’s Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) guidance continues to recommend the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health and social care teams treating COVID-19 patients. It is crucial that everyone that needs it has access to the right protective equipment.The Department’s, New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) recently reviewed the evidence and has maintained this position, stating that they do “not consider that the evidence supports chest compressions or defibrillation being procedures that are associated with a significantly increased risk of transmission of acute respiratory infections”. Further information is available at the following link:https://app.box.com/s/3lkcbxepqixkg4mv640dpvvg978ixjtf/file/657486851975

Vitamin C: Coronavirus

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the efficacy of Vitamin C in boosting immunity to covid-19.

Jo Churchill: The Government has not undertaken a specific assessment of vitamin C in relation to COVID-19. However, Public Health England (PHE) is not aware of any robust evidence that vitamin C can “boost” the immune system to prevent us from catching COVID-19 or mitigate its effects.PHE is monitoring emerging evidence on nutrition and COVID-19 and assessing its quality, involving the Government’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition as appropriate.

Dental Services: Coronavirus

Saqib Bhatti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of when it will be safe  for dentists and dental practitioners to re-open.

Jo Churchill: National Health Service dentistry was reorganised in late March along with other NHS primary care services to minimise face to face care to contain the spread of COVID-19 during the peak of the pandemic. Dentists were asked to suspend all routine treatment and instead to offer urgent advice and, where required, prescriptions for antibiotics by telephone. Urgent treatment was made available through urgent dental centres (UDCs) set up in each NHS region.As of 25 May there are currently over 550 UDCs open. Patients are triaged into UDCs by their own dentistry or through NHS 111. The UDCs are expected to provide, where urgently needed, the full range of dental treatment normally available on the NHS.NHS England and NHS Improvement announced on 28 May that NHS dentistry outside UDCs will begin to restart from 8 June with the aim of increasing levels of service as fast as is compatible with maximising safety. The letter to dentists setting this out is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-ontent/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/Urgent-dental-care-letter-28-May.pdf

Dental Services: Coronavirus

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason it is his policy that routine dentistry is not permitted under covid-19 outbreak restrictions; what assessment he has made of the potential merits of permitting private dentists to resume routine dentistry services provided they do not use high intensity aerosols; what his most recent assessment is of the (a) quality and (b) availability of dentistry services available since the start of the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 02 June 2020



National Health Service dentistry was reorganised in late March along with other NHS primary care services to minimise face to face care to contain the spread of COVID-19 during the peak of the pandemic. Dentists were asked to suspend all routine treatment and instead to offer urgent advice and, where required, prescriptions for antibiotics by telephone. Urgent treatment was made available through urgent dental centres (UDCs) set up in each NHS region.As of 25 May there are currently over 550 UDCs open. Patients are triaged into UDCs by their own dentistry or through NHS 111. The UDCs are expected to provide, where urgently needed, the full range of dental treatment normally available on the NHS.NHS England and NHS Improvement announced on 28 May that NHS dentistry outside urgent care centres will begin to restart from 8 June with the aim of increasing levels of service as fast as is compatible with maximising safety. The letter to dentists setting this out is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-ontent/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/Urgent-dental-care-letter-28-May.pdf

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what additional resources his Department plans to provide to local authorities to support the test, track and trace programme during the covid-19 outbreak.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



We have agreed £300 million worth of new dedicated funding to support local authorities with implementing Test and Trace and local outbreak plans.This money will be allocated shortly following standard procedures.Alongside financial contributions, the NHS Test and Trace service is developing comprehensive guidance to assist local authorities in developing their own COVID-19 outbreak plans.

Taitusi Ratucaucau

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what representations he has received on waiving medical charges in respect of Commonwealth-born armed forces veteran Taitusi Ratucaucau.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



To date we have received three Parliamentary Questions and three items of correspondence concerning this individual, two of which are Private Office cases, and the other a Departmental email.The Department remains in close contact with NHS England and NHS Improvement who are working with the provider concerned to ensure the veteran continues to receive the best possible treatment and care from the National Health Service.

Coronavirus: Death

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to support (a) people bereaved by covid-19 and (b) people who have turned to harmful alcohol use as a result of that bereavement.

Ms Nadine Dorries: A number of charities and voluntary organisations provide a range of valued services for people experiencing bereavement. The Government is taking a cross-Government approach to address bereavement support, and what is needed to ensure that families and friends of those deceased get the support they need - particularly during this very difficult time. On 22 May, the Government announced £22 million funding to life-saving health charities, £4.2 million of which will be used to support mental health charities and charities providing bereavement support. This funding is part of an overall £750 million package for the voluntary sector announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in April.Local alcohol services and virtual support groups continue to operate during the pandemic, to ensure people receive the support they need. Public Health England continues to maintain the FRANK website and helpline, which provides a service for people who are concerned about their own or others’ drugs and alcohol consumption. The FRANK website can be accessed at the following link:https://www.talktofrank.com/

Movianto UK: Contracts

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Movianto NHS contract to maintain the UK pandemic supplies stockpile required the NHS to pay for the fixed costs such as rent and utilities that Movianto incurred.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



The contract with Movianto regarding the maintenance of the United Kingdom pandemic supplies has costs associated with an appropriate portion of building service charges.

Movianto UK: Contracts

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether Movianto has claimed and received payment from the NHS for the cost of the rent for the new Haydock Green premises.

Edward Argar: The contract with Movianto regarding the maintenance of the United Kingdom pandemic supplies has costs associated with an appropriate portion of building service charges, and these currently relate to the Haydock Green premises.

Charities: Government Assistance

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what financial support is available for health and social care charities during the covid-19 outbreak.

Edward Argar: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



On 8 April, the Chancellor announced £750 million to support the charity sector in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This fund comprises three elements:- £360 million has been allocated by central Government to charities in England based on evidence of service need, including £22 million for health and social care charities and £200 million for hospices;- £370 million to support charities working with vulnerable people. In England, £200 million of this support will be provided through the National Lottery Community Fund’s “Coronavirus Community Support Fund”, which charities can apply directly for. This will provide support for thousands of charities on the frontline of helping vulnerable people affected by COVID-19; and- The Government will match whatever the public decides to donate to the BBC Big Night In fundraising event that took place on 23 April, starting with a contribution of at least £20 million to the National Emergencies Trust appeal.Charities can also access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and they are able to benefit from the three-month VAT deferral scheme. Charity shop premises will benefit from the new enhanced retail rate relief at 100%.

Ophthalmic Services: Coronavirus

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce the backlog of ophthalmology appointments that were cancelled due to the covid-19 outbreak.

Edward Argar: We continue to work closely with the National Health Service and partners and guidance has already been issued to the NHS on the process of starting to restore urgent non-covid services in a safe way.This will be done on the principle that the most urgent treatments should be brought back first and this will be driven by local demands on the system. The approach will be flexed at local level according to capacity and demand in different parts of the country. The restoration of services will be gradual, over weeks.

Hospitals: Health Services

Kate Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when routine services and treatments will recommence in NHS hospitals.

Edward Argar: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



With evidence suggesting that we are through the peak of the first wave of COVID-19, and with the National Health Service well-placed to provide world-leading care for those who do still have the virus, we are bringing back routine services that had been temporarily paused. We are working on the principle that the most urgent treatments should be brought back first and this will be driven by local demands on the system. The approach will be flexed at local level according to capacity and demand in different parts of the country, and will be gradual, over weeks.We have continued to deliver the most urgent treatments, such as emergency and urgent cancer care, throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether people contacted by the track and trace system will be told the identity of the covid-19 positive person it is said they have come in contact with (a) as a matter of routine or (b) if they ask for that information.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Government launched its new NHS Test and Trace service on 28 May 2020. This includes enhanced contact tracing.The NHS Test and Trace service will not share the name or details of a COVID-19 positive person, as this is confidential. This includes where someone who has been named as a contact asks for the identity of the person who is COVID-19 positive.

Health Services: Immigrants

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the waiver of the Immigration Heath Surcharge for NHS and care workers announced by the Government on 21 May 2020 will also apply to the families of those workers.

Edward Argar: Department of Health and Social Care and Home Office officials are working to implement the Prime Minister’s announcement of 21 May and further details will be published shortly.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Mr David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Welsh Government on co-operation between England and Wales for the NHS Test and Trace service.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



The importance of developing a consistent and joined-up approach to contact tracing and testing across the whole of the United Kingdom is regularly discussed between the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and his counterparts in each of the devolved administrations, most recently on 28 May 2020 at the weekly Four Nations ministerial call.To support this, officials within the Department, NHSX and Public Health England are working closely with counterparts in the Welsh Government – as in each of the devolved administrations – to explore opportunities for aligning and integrating contact tracing and testing systems.

Eating Disorders

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his will make it his policy to work with the eating disorders charity Beat to (a) access the most recent data on issues facing people with eating disorders, (b) support people with eating disorders and (c) allocate additional funding (i) to tackle the causes and (b) for the treatment of those conditions.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



Departmental Ministers and officials engage a wide range of expert organisations to inform its policies and this includes Beat. We recently announced over £9 million of funding support for charities supporting vulnerable people through the COVID-19 pandemic. We were delighted to announce that Beat has been awarded grant funding through this process to continue the valuable work it does in supporting people with eating disorders.The Government is also funding a new eating disorder study jointly led with King’s College London and eating disorder charity, Beat, via the National Institute for Health Research. The study aims to better understand what may lead to an eating disorder as well as how best we provide more effective treatment.We are aware that NHS England has consulted Beat on work to improve adult eating disorder pathways in the community to build our understanding of how best to introduce ambitious but achievable improvements to access, quality of care and outcomes.

Coronavirus: Hospitals

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 29 May 2020 to Question 43030 on Coronavirus: Hospitals, what information his Department holds on the number of (a) admissions and (b) deaths in (i) all and (ii) each Nightingale hospital.

Edward Argar: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



NHS England collects and publishes information on the deaths of patients who have died in hospitals in England and had tested positive for COVID-19 or where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. This data is currently available for two of the Nightingale hospitals (NHS Nightingale Hospital London and NHS Nightingale Hospital North West).Data is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/covid-19-daily-deaths/

Department of Health and Social Care: Correspondence

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason his Department has send replies to letters from Honorable Members from civil servants; and whether those letters were been seen by a Minister in his department before they are issued.

Edward Argar: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



The Department is currently dealing with unprecedented volumes of correspondence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with approximately 22,000 cases received since the beginning of March, a threefold increase in cases compared to the same period last year.The Department ensures that urgent cases raised by Members are prioritised and has taken steps to provide substantive responses in as short a time as possible.All lines used to respond to correspondence are provided by the Department’s policy teams and the Ministerial Correspondence and Public Enquiry unit has daily contact with Ministers’ private offices. As a temporary measure, officials are sending replies with commonly used lines in line with Cabinet Office guidance.

Surgery

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) operations and (b) types of operation have been cancelled in each NHS trust in England since the covid-19 lockdown measures were implemented in March 2020.

Edward Argar: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



This data is not available in the format requested.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to implement the decision of the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities not to require the use of animal disease models to test the effectiveness of potential vaccines for the SARS-CoV-2 virus before they proceed to human clinical trials.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Assessors from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) took a lead part in the meeting of the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities, held on 18 March 2020, where participants acknowledged that the extent of non-clinical data to support proceeding to First Time in Human (FTIH) clinical trials for a candidate COVID-19 vaccine depends on the vaccine construct, the supportive data available for the construct, and data from closely related products. It was generally agreed that if a platform technology utilised to manufacture a licensed vaccine or other investigational vaccines is well characterised, it is possible to use toxicology data and clinical data accrued with other products using the same platform to support FTIH clinical trials for a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate. However, it was also agreed that data from animal disease models would be required to support Phase II clinical trials. This is the policy that the MHRA had already implemented for other candidate vaccines for various diseases.

Tonbridge Hospital

Tom Tugendhat: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions his Department has had with NHS Property Services on the return of Tonbridge Cottage Hospital to Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust.

Edward Argar: Tonbridge Cottage Hospital transferred from West Kent Primary Care Trust upon its abolition in 2013 to NHS Property Services. Since May 2019 National Health Service trusts and foundation trusts can request a transfer of estate in the ownership of the NHS Property Companies, which includes NHS Property Services.Applicant trusts are required to submit a business cases to the Department explaining how a transfer of ownership will benefit the local health system and confirming that the transfer would be on the terms set out in guidance. The Department will then decide whether the transfer should take place.Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust submitted a business case for the transfer of Tonbridge Cottage Hospital in March 2020. We are currently assessing this and are in discussions with the trust and NHS Property Services as part of the process.

Ministry of Defence

Commonwealth: Veterans

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British Commonwealth personnel are in receipt of (a) a War Disablement Pension or (b) the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

Johnny Mercer: Information on the nationality of War Pension recipients is not recorded centrally.As of 31 March 2019, approximately 209 British Commonwealth personnel, as defined by the British Nationality Act 1981, were in receipt of an ongoing payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.Figures covering the period 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 will be published on the Gov.UK website within the next four weeks, at the link below:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/armed-forces-compensation-scheme-statistics-index

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit: Coronavirus

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department made prior to implementing the £20 a week uplift to universal credit due to the covid-19 outbreak of the effect of that policy on (a) economically vulnerable people, (b) household food security and (c) the duties of public bodies under the Equalities Act 2010.

Will Quince: Holding answer received on 12 May 2020



We have announced measures that can be quickly and effectively operationalised. This allowed, for example, for the swift introduction of the £20 a week uplift to the Universal Credit standard allowance to respond to the effects of the current pandemic for those experiencing the most financial disruption. The changes we have made to the benefit system in response to the pandemic provide a balanced package of support.Ministers have fully complied with their statutory duties when making decisions on the existing package of support. There is insufficient data to estimate the precise economic impact on different groups. We continue to monitor data sources including tax and benefit data to understand the effect of COVID-19 on household incomes and debt.

Universal Credit: Young People

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to increase universal credit rates for people aged under 25.

Will Quince: Holding answer received on 15 May 2020



We have increased the Universal Credit standard allowance by around £20 per week for the next 12 months – equivalent to up to £1,040 a year. This is in addition to the 1.7% inflation increase (announced Nov 2019) as part of the Government’s decision to end the benefits freeze and means more financial support for millions of people across the UK.

Universal Credit

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many families who have made a claim for universal credit since 23 March 2020 have three or more children.

Will Quince: Holding answer received on 12 May 2020



 From 23rd March 2020 to 5th May 2020, 57,000, applications made by claimants with children to Universal Credit had three or more children in their family.

Universal Credit: Coronavirus

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect of the decision not to extend the covid-19 emergency £20 funding for universal credit claimants to those on legacy benefits.

Will Quince: Holding answer received on 18 May 2020



As part of the Government’s strategy to support people affected by COVID 19, DWP has made a number of changes to make sure people can self-isolate, and to ensure people who need financial help have access to the benefit system. We have announced measures that benefit those experiencing the most financial disruption and which can be quickly and effectively operationalised, these include: Increasing the Local Housing Allowance rates so that they cover 30% of local market rents – which is on average an additional £600 per year in people’s pockets. Amendments to Housing Benefit so that increases in Working Tax Credits can be disregarded rather than reducing the Housing Benefit award.  Treating all ESA claimants who satisfy the conditions of entitlement and are suffering from COVID-19, or who are required to self-isolate in line with government guidance, as having limited capability for work, without the requirement to provide a fit note or to undergo a Work Capability Assessment. Removing waiting days for ESA for those claimants affected by Covid-19, so it will be payable from day one of the claim, subject to the claimant satisfying the normal conditions of entitlement.

Universal Credit: Young People

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the universal credit standard allowance for people aged under 25 who are living independently.

Will Quince: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



We have increased the Universal Credit standard allowance by around £20 per week for the next 12 months – equivalent to up to £1,040 a year. This is in addition to the 1.7% inflation increase (announced Nov 2019) as part of the Government’s decision to end the benefits freeze and means more financial support for millions of people across the UK.

Independent Case Examiner

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2020 to Question 43913 on the Independent Case Examiner, how many new Independent Case Examiners were recruited between 1 February 2020 and 31 March 2020 to help reduce the time complaints wait to be brought into investigation.

Mims Davies: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



Funding has been made available in the 2020/21 financial year to allow the Independent Case Examiner’s (ICE) Office to help reduce the time complaints wait to be brought into investigation. Its headcount will increase from 89 to 112. The recruitment of additional Investigation Case Managers commenced in February 2020, but was paused following the introduction of the Coronavirus lockdown measures. That pause has now been lifted and the Office is currently concluding the recruitment exercise.

Department for Work and Pensions: Statistics

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to publish her Department’s response to the DWP Statistics Publication Frequency Review, published in December 2019.

Mims Davies: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



Our response to DWP statistics publication frequency: statistical notice was published on 19 December and can be found at the top of the page here:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/dwp-statistics-publication-frequency-statistical-notice

Bereavement Support Payment: Coronavirus

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people that are not eligible for bereavement support payment as a result of not being married contacted Tell Us Once service during the covid-19 outbreak.

Mims Davies: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



Tell Us Once (TUO) does not collect this information. TUO is purely a notification service and asks a citizen if they wish to notify a range of partner organisations including the Department for Work and Pensions. There is no distinct correlation between the notification issued and Bereavement Support Payment. In addition, Tell Us Once does not form any part of any claim to benefits.

Home Office

Domestic Abuse and Sexual Offences: Coronavirus

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) risk assessment and (b) planning her Department has conducted on the potential increased risk to victims of (i) domestic abuse and (ii) sexual violence as covid-19 lockdown measures are lifted.

Victoria Atkins: We are working closely with specialist charities, the Domestic Abuse and Victims’ Commissioners and the police to understand the potential impacts on victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence as lockdown measures are lifted.It remains a priority to ensure that victims of domestic abuse or sexual violence are able to access appropriate help or support both during and following the lockdown period. That is why the Government announced £76 million of funding for organisations supporting survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence, as well as vulnerable children and their families and victims of modern slavery.Police forces continue to deal proactively with domestic abuse incidents and will aim to build on innovative approaches established over this period to further protect victims of abuse and to target perpetrators, as well as responding to any more general changes in crime and offending as lockdown measures are lifted.The Prime Minister’s Hidden Harms Summit in May, further underlined the Government’s commitment to planning to ensure that vulnerable victims are not forgotten during the lockdown period or in the subsequent period.

Treasury

Ministers: Codes of Practice

Ian Murray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many written instructions as described in section 5.5 of the Ministerial Code have been issued by Ministers in each year since 2010; for what reason each instruction was issued; and in which Department they were issued.

Steve Barclay: Ministerial Directions are published on gov.uk. As set out in paragraph 3.4.5. of “Managing Public Money”,[1] it is the responsibility of the relevant accounting officer to arrange for the existence of the direction to be published, no later than in the next report and accounts, unless the matter must be kept confidential.There have been 27 Ministerial Directions published since April 2011, set out in the table attached. Prior to this date, publication was not required. DateDepartment DirectionReason(s)LinksJanuary 2015Department for Business, Innovation and SkillsHatfield Colliery Partnership LtdValue for moneyAO request Min directionFebruary 2015Department for TransportNorthern and TransPennine Express franchises 2015: invitations to tenderValue for moneyAO request Min directionMarch 2015Department for TransportManston Airport: procuring consultants for independent reviewValue for MoneyAO request Min directionJune 2015Department for Business, Innovation and SkillsRoyal Mail Employee Shares (1)Value for moneyAO request Min directionJune 2015Cabinet Office and Duchy of LancasterKids CompanyValue for moneyAO request Min directionJune 2015Department for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsFlood reinsurance schemeValue for moneyAO request Min directionOctober 2015Department for Business, Innovation and SkillsRoyal Mail Employee Shares (2)Value for moneyAO request Min directionOctober 2015Department for Business, Innovation and SkillsRedcar SteelworksValue for moneyAO request Min directionMay 2016Department for TransportLondon Garden BridgeValue for moneyAO request Min directionJuly 2016Cabinet OfficeSpecial Advisers’ PayValue for moneyAO request Min directionJanuary 2018Department for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsEuropean Union exit costsProprietyAO request Min directionFebruary 2018Department for TransportEuropean Union exit preparationsProprietyAO request Min directionMarch 2018Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentLocal government overpaymentProprietyAO request Min directionMarch 2018Department for Business, Energy & Industrial StrategyEuropean Union exit preparations – market surveillanceProprietyAO request Min directionMarch 2018Department for International TradeSpend before Royal Assent on EU Exit costsProprietyAO request Min directionMay 2018Department for EducationT Levels delivery time-tableFeasibilityAO request Min directionJune 2018UK Export FinanceSupport for export of Typhoon aircraft to QatarValue for moneyAO request Min directionApril 2019UK Export FinanceIncreased cover for IraqRegularity and value for moneyAO request Min directionMay 2019Ministry of JusticeFinancial assistance for subcontractors affected by the collapse of Working LinksValue for moneyAO request Min directionMay 2019Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local GovernmentRemediation of private sector residential buildings with unsafe ACM claddingValue for moneyAO request Min DirectionJuly 2019Home OfficeWindrush Compensation SchemeRegularity and ProprietyAO request Min DirectionNovember 2019Department for Business, Energy and Industrial StrategyContinuation of Official Receiver’s IndemnityValue for moneyAO request Min direction November 2019National Health ServiceNHS Pension tax chargesRegularity and PriorityAO request Min directionMarch 2020Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy(Coronavirus (COVID-19) Support Fund for Retail, hospitality and Leisure BusinessValue for Money FeasibilityAO request Ministerial Direction March 2020Department for Business, Energy and Industrial StrategyCoronavirus COVID-19 the Small Grants FundValue for Money FeasibilityAO request Ministerial Direction March 2020Department for Health and Social CareCoronavirus (Covid-19): Ministerial direction on spend.RegularityAO request  Ministerial DirectionMay 2020Ministry of Communities and Local GovernmentGrant for unsafe claddingValue for MoneyAO request Ministerial Direction  [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/managing-public-money

Dental Services: Coronavirus

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps he is taking to support dentists that were required to close during the covid-19 pandemic.

Steve Barclay: The Government recognises the important role all medical businesses play to protect and improve the health of the population and is taking many steps to support them during the COVID-19 outbreak. Dentists will be fully remunerated for the NHS work they would have otherwise undertaken, subject to some basic requirements. Medical practices may also benefit from the range of economic support measures the Government has announced, including:A Discretionary Grant Fund for Local Authorities in EnglandThe Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBL) for small and micro enterprisesVAT deferral for up to 12 monthsThe Time To Pay scheme, through which businesses in financial distress, and with outstanding tax liabilities, can receive support with their tax affairsProtection for commercial leaseholders against automatic forfeiture for non-payment until June 30, 2020 The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, and how to apply - https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder.

Children: Day Care

Nadia Whittome: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has plans to increase the level of funding available to key workers for childcare to meet the increased costs of that care as a result of social distancing measures during the covid-19 outbreak.

Steve Barclay: Parents continue to have access to the Government’s childcare offers during the Covid-19 crisis. This includes support through Universal Credit or Working Tax Credit worth up to 85% and 70% of childcare costs respectively, up to 30 hours of free childcare a week for 3 and 4-year-olds, and up to £2,000 per year of support through Tax Free Childcare. Schools also continue to offer places to the children of key workers, as they have done since the end of March. To ensure key workers working additional hours do not lose their entitlement to free hours or Tax Free Childcare, for this tax year we are temporarily relaxing the maximum income threshold for those parents.

NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020

Clive Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to extend the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020 to the families of all key workers who die from covid-19.

Steve Barclay: On 27 April, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced a new Life Assurance scheme for frontline NHS and social care workers who die from coronavirus. This recognises the increased risks faced by these staff during the course of their essential and lifesaving work during the crisis, and the need to encourage retired doctors and nurses to fill staff shortages and boost service capacity. It pays a £60,000 tax-free lump sum where staff die as a result of coronavirus and had been recently working in frontline roles and locations where personal care is provided to individuals who have contracted coronavirus. The government will continue to review the support provided to key workers on the front-line.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Culture and Tourism: Coronavirus

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps he has taken to support the heritage and tourism sector during the covid-19 outbreak.

Nigel Huddleston: We will continue to engage with stakeholders to assess how we can most effectively support the heritage and tourism sectors through this crisis. Businesses and workers in these sectors can access the Government’s comprehensive economic support package, including the recently extended the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Bounce Back Loans scheme. Through VisitEngland, we announced a £1.3 million scheme to provide financial support to Destination Management Organisations at risk of closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and Historic England (HE) have made emergency funding available for the heritage sector. The NLHF’s £50 million Heritage Emergency Fund and HE’s £2 million Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund extend a safety net to a wide variety of heritage organisations struggling with financial losses and cash flow issues. My Department’s Cultural Renewal Taskforce - which contains specific Heritage and Visitor Economy Working Groups - is developing guidance to help these sectors to safely reopen.

Holiday Accommodation: Coronavirus

Dr Dan Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the viability of self-contained holiday rentals being treated in the same manner as second homes when lifting covid-19 restrictions as long as relevant public health guidance is followed.

Nigel Huddleston: We will look at opening forms of holiday accommodation in Step 3 of the government’s recovery strategy, currently planned for 4 July at the earliest. This will be subject to the further scientific advice and the latest risk assessment at the time. My Department has launched the Cultural Renewal Taskforce to help our sectors’ businesses prepare to reopen when it is safe to do so. To inform this Taskforce, we have set up a Visitor Economy Working Group to specifically focus on the practicalities and guidelines for restarting tourism activity during the recovery period. We remain in regular contact with holiday rentals stakeholders as part of this Group.

Tourism: Social Distancing

Dr Luke Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the tourism industry to ensure the safe resumption of tourism with relevant social distancing measures in summer 2020.

Nigel Huddleston: My officials and I continue to regularly discuss this matter in detail with representatives from across the tourism industry. My Department has launched the Cultural Renewal Taskforce to help our sectors prepare to reopen when it is safe to do so. To inform this taskforce, we have set up a Visitor Economy Working Group to specifically focus on developing guidance for restarting tourism activity. We remain in regular contact with tourism stakeholders through both this group and the Tourism Industry Emergency Response Group.

Football Association Premier League: Intellectual Property

Mr Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has made to the Government of Saudi Arabia on the blocking of law suits attempted by the Premier League to protect its intellectual property in that country; and if he can make a statement.

Nigel Huddleston: My officials are working closely with their counterparts in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Trade to ensure the international interests of the Premier League and other UK sports bodies are protected and promoted around the world. We know that the Premier League is a great soft power asset for the UK, and we will continue to encourage relevant national governments to ensure it receives parity of treatment in all international markets.

Service Industries: Coronavirus

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his Department has to create a tailored support package for the events industry to support that sector during the covid-19 outbreak.

Nigel Huddleston: We are aware that COVID-19 has significantly impacted multiple aspects of the events industry. My officials continue to gather intelligence from the sector and I regularly engage with events stakeholders to monitor the situation through the Visitor Economy Working Group, the Events Industry Board, and the Tourism Industry Emergency Response Group. Government support for the events sector is set out in the International Business Events Action Plan, which was published in June 2019. We will continue to engage with stakeholders to assess how we can most effectively support the sector’s recovery from COVID-19. Businesses and workers in the events industry can access the Government’s comprehensive economic support package, including the recently extended the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Bounce Back Loans scheme.

Commonwealth Games 2022: Coronavirus

Stuart Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on preparations for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Nigel Huddleston: Birmingham 2022 will be at the heart of a memorable summer of sport and a year of national celebration in 2022. We will continue to work with our partners to closely monitor the situation over the next two years and ensure we can deliver a fantastic Games in 2022.

Women and Equalities

Gay Conversion Therapy

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the letter from the Government Equalities Office to the hon Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston in December 2019, ref COGEO-001047, when the timetable for ending conversion therapy will be released.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government takes this issue very seriously and fundamentally disagrees with attempts to forcibly change someone’s sexuality.My officials are working at pace on the matter, and we will outline plans to end its practice in due course.We have commissioned research that looks at the scope of practices and experiences of those subjected to conversion therapy. Once the findings have been reviewed, we will continue engaging other key stakeholders, and ensure we quickly progress an effective approach.

Gay Conversion Therapy

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the existing legislative framework to end conversion therapy.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government Equalities Office are reviewing the current legislative framework to see where and how the harmful and unacceptable practices referred to as conversion therapy may already be captured by existing laws and offences.As my honourable friend will know, there are certain abhorrent and violent practices which may be classed as conversion therapy such as ‘corrective’ rape, or other forms of physical abuse, which are already covered by existing criminal offences. Where such practices are already unlawful, we will ensure the law is clear, well understood and enforced.Where dangerous conversion therapy practices are not already unlawful, we are examining the best ways to prevent them being conducted, without sending such practices underground.We will outline plans to end Conversion Therapy practice in due course.

Equality: Coronavirus

Stella Creasy: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what process has been undertaken to consult civil society, including women and equality rights organisations in relation to the effect of covid-19 outbreak on the operation of the Equality Act.

Kemi Badenoch: All the legislative protections against discrimination provided by the Equality Act 2010, including those relating to sex and to pregnancy and maternity as protected characteristics, continue to apply during the covid-19 outbreak period, and the scope of the Act remains unchanged.The Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS), the helpline for anyone who believes that they have been discriminated against in the provision of goods, services and public functions, remains open and can provide free bespoke advice and in-depth support, as can Acas (0800 464 0979) in relation to employment discrimination issues.The EASS can be contacted via its website - www.equalityadvisoryservice.com, by telephone on 0808 800 0082, or by text phone on 0808 800 0084. The EASS may contact a service provider on a customer’s behalf to discuss the scope for meeting the customer’s concern; it also liaises with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which has powers to enforce the provisions of the Act.